The Value of True Treasure Matthew 13: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Metro LA Special Contribution Plan: In 2013, we will proceed with the already budgeted goals of collecting $ 160,000, distributing $25,000 for outside church/ mission support (15%) and retaining the remainder (85%) for Regional operational expense. In 2014, we will plan to distribute 35% of total collection for outside church/ mission support and retaining 65% for regional operational expense. In 2015 and thereafter, we will plan to distribute 75% of total collection for outside church/ mission support and retain 25% for: 1) remaining Regional benevolent needs and then any remaining funds, 2) for other special Regional operational expenses.

Four Decisions to Help Promote Generosity 1. Be grateful: Psalm 116:12 How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me? 2. Acknowledge God’s ownership: Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.

Four Decisions to Help Promote Generosity 3. Don’t forget God: Deut 6: When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Four Decisions to Help Promote Generosity 4. Commit yourself totally to God: Luke 14:33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

GIVING – HOW ? By faith and cheerfully: 2 Corinthians 9:6 - 8 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

GIVING – WHAT ? Firstfruits: Prov 3: 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.

GIVING – HOW OFTEN ? Consistently - 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of the week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

GIVING – HOW MUCH ? Give with all your heart. 2 Corinthians 8:1-3 8 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.

GIVING – HOW MUCH ? SOME DIRECTION Matthew 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Israelites were commanded to give a tenth (tithe) of all their income to the Lord. With all their other offerings, a Jew may actually have given up to 33% of their income to God. Abraham: gave God’s priest Melchizedek a tithe, Moses: law given by God through him prescribed a 1/10 of land to be set aside for the Levites, another 1/10 set aside for national holidays and feasts etc., David: gave his personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple, the poor widow: commended by Jesus for giving all she had to live on. Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

BE ON YOUR GUARD Luke 12:15-21 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Proverbs 22:7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. Greed is a serious sin. Debt is the American nightmare. We must learn to be good stewards or managers of the money God has blessed us with.